Aroniaberry or chokeberry (Aronia sp., Rosaceae) is an attractive new native fruit crop. Native to eastern and central United States, this deciduous tree-like shrub produces berries with one of the highest concentrations of anthocyanins compared to other fruits. Bred for northern climates, A. ‘Viking’ is the most popular fruit cultivar. Fruit production and quality of A. ‘Viking’, Red Chokeberry (A. arbutifolia), and black chokeberry (A. melanocarpa) was evaluated during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, in two locations in the state of Georgia: Blairsville (Zone 7a, Blue Ridge region) and Griffin (Zone 8a, Piedmont region). At both locations, 15 two-year old plants of each genotype were planted in 2021. All genotypes increased their yields between growing seasons (2022 to 2023) but the increment was much higher, and plants had higher yields in Blairsville. A. ‘Viking’ performed poorly in Griffin in 2022 (38.33 g and 119.4 average berries /plant) compared to plants in Blairsville (184.83 g and 237 average berries /plant); in 2023, Blairsville yields were 705.58 g and 1308 average berries /plant, but yields were almost zero in Griffin. A similar trend was observed in A. melanocarpa, with higher yields in Blairsville in the first year and no berry production in Griffin during the second year. A. melanocarpa was the genotype with the biggest increment in yield from 30.62 g and 21 average berries/plant in 2022 to 1111.41 g and 1594.95 average berries /plant in 2023 (Blairsville). A. arbutifolia had better yields in Blairsville compared to Griffin, but plants produced berries at both locations during both years. In terms of fruit quality, A. ‘Viking’ berries were tougher and with a stronger skin in Griffin, and there were no significant differences in texture from 2022 to 2023 in Blairsville. A. melanocarpa berries had similar texture and skin strength in both years. A. arbutifolia texture was similar in both locations in 2023, but in 2022 Griffin plants produced tougher fruit with stronger skin. Plants in Blairsville produced sweeter fruit compared to Griffin, across all genotypes.
